Ashtray



Aug. 12, 1947. F. GRAFFENBERGER v ASH TRAY Filed July 14, 1944 He drick" Graffenberger INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ASHTRAY Fredrick Graffenberger, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 14, 1944, Serial No. 544,905

1 Claim.

This invention relates to ash trays.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved ash tray for receiving lighted cigars and cigarettes of various lengths and to retain the same against accidental dislodgement from the tray.

Another object is to provide an ash tray by which the burning of a lighted cigar or cigarette may be controlled by the position in which the same is deposited in the tray.

Other more specific objects and advantages will hereinafter appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of an ash tray constructed in accordance with the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an ash tray embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View thereof taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

The ash tray selected for illustration comprises a bowl l having a peripheral wall II and an outwardly projecting rim l2. The rim I2 is fashioned to provide a series of V-shaped radial grooves l3 which preferably slope inwardly and intersect the inner wall surface of the bowl to form a series of notches I4 of sufficient Width and depth to freely receive and position a cigar or cigarette lodged therein.

A series of upstanding lugs or posts [5, extending across the bottom of the bowl, project upwardly to a common level within the bowl. The lugs l5 are preferably diamond shaped in horizonta1 section with an obtuse side corner of each opposite a similar corner of an adjacent lug, These lugs are preferably upwardly tapered and at their upper ends these side corners of successive lugs are preferably equally spaced a distance slightly less than the diameter of a cigarette so as to receive and position a cigar or cigarette lodged in th recesses thus formed between the lugs. Both end lugs l-5' of the series are preferably shorter than the others and preferably merge into the side wall of the bowl to better accommodate the end of a cigar or cigarette lodged thereon.

The series of lugs l5 thus provide a convenient and secure lodgement for the lighted end of a cigar or cigarette, while the notches I4 in the rim [2 provide a convenient and secure lodgement for the opposite end thereof.

With the opposite ends of each cigarette or cigar thus cradled at opposite ends, it is secu y retained against accidental dislodgement from the bowl. It will be noted that there is a wide variation in the distance between any of the notches I 4 and any of the various positions of lodgement thus provided along the series of lugs I5, so that various lengths of cigarettes and cigars, from the partially consumed cigarette to the full length cigar, may be supported thereon Without excessive projection beyond the bowl.

It will :be further noted that with a cigarette positioned, as at a in Fig. 1, with its burning tip disposed well beyond the series of lugs l5, the cigarette will continue to burn freely; that with the cigarette in position b with its lighted tip adjacent the series of lugs I5, the burning may be eifectively checked by the cooling effect of the contacting lugs; and that the fire in the lighted tip may be effectivel smothered and promptly extinguished by placing the cigarette in position 0 with the lighted tip engaged between the bases of adjacent lugs l5. The burning of a lighted cigarette may thus be controlled by properly positioning it in the bowl.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

An ash tray comprising a bowl having a circular series of grooves formed in the rim thereof, each of said grooves :being adapted to receive and cradle an end portion of a cigar or cigarette lodged thereon, and a row of upstanding substantially diamond shaped 1ugs-extending diametrically across the bottom of said bowl, the side corners of successive lugs being spaced apart to form recesses adapted to receive and cradle the opposite end portion of the cigar or cigarette in any of the various angular positions the latter may assume relative to the row of lugs.

FREDRICK GRAFFENBERGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,352,756 Anholt July 4, 1944 2,334,735 Trimble Nov. 23, 1943 D. 120,541 Boyd May 14, 1940 2,332,929 Rees Oct, 26, 1943 

